Stars competing at Olympic Games football 2024

The opening ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games may not take place until Friday, but the action is already underway with the football having kicked off on Wednesday. 

Morocco beat World champions Argentina 2-1 in a dramatic match in the French capital, with crowd trouble prompting a two-hour delay before the referee ruled out a goal that had been scored prior to the stoppage.

Eight ties take place in total on Wednesday, including hosts France facing the USA.

While nations are only allowed three players over the age of 23 in their squads, there is still an array of talent on display in Paris over the next fortnight.

Here, we take a look at some of the stars taking part in the tournament.

France 

Managed by Les Bleus and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, the hosts boast a squad that includes a number of stars including former Gunners striker Alexander Lacazette, who has scored three times in 16 games for his nation at senior level. The 33-year-old is one of the three overage players that France are allowed, and is joined in the squad by the likes of Rayan Cherki, Loic Bade and Manu Kone. Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is also in the squad after scoring 14 goals in the final 16 games of the Premier League season for the Eagles. Former Palace man Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich earlier this summer, is also selected.

Olise enjoyed a fine season for Palace last term, earning him a move to Bayern Munich

Argentina

The 2022 World Cup winners boast arguably the most experienced squad out of all the nations in the competition, with former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi one of their overage players. Current Citizens star Julian Alvarez was 23-years-old at the start of 2024 and therefore qualifies as under-23, and the forward will be hoping to add to his personal trophy cabinet that already includes the World Cup, Champions League and Premier League. Ezequiel Fernandez and Thiago Almada, of Boca Juniors and Botafoga respectively, are also in the squad.

Spain

Spain won the European Championship earlier this month, and they will now be hoping their young stars can lift another trophy this summer. Sergio Gomez, who left Man City to join Real Sociedad earlier this summer, is included in the Spain squad as one of their players over the age of 23. The left-back is joined in the squad by Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez, Villarreal’s Alex Baene, Girona’s Eric Garcia – another former Man City player.

Gomez recently left Man City to join Real Sociedad

USA

New Chelsea signing Caleb Wiley is among those included in the USA squad for the tournament this summer, joined by new teammate Gabriel Slonina, Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson are among those named as overage players.

Guinea

Midfielders Naby Keita and Amadou Diawara have 99 caps for the Guinea senior team between them, and the pair are included in the squad as overage players. Atalanta’s Henry Camara and Getafe’s Ilaix Moriba are also included.

Keita is one of Guinea’s over-23 players